I Have Seen You There.

This is one of those 5 minute poems. Stuff you scribble down as and when it comes to your head and you feel an almost urgent need to put it down on paper because you know you want to preserve the feeling. Here goes.

I have seen you there, from the very first moment I opened my eyes,

From the very first moment I learnt to let the light in.

I have seen you there, the first time I took a step and fell,

Saw only pride in your eyes, wondered why you didn’t care.

A thousand hands rushed to me but all you did was smile

Knowing that I would one day learn to lift myself off the ground.

I have seen you there, the first time my feet moved with the rhythm

Of the music that came from you, that late evening on the front porch

The sun was going down and even through the darkness I saw

You basking in the light that was and came from me.

I have seen you there, the first time I scribbled a meaningful verse

I ran to your writing desk, ecstatic, and so proud.

And all you did was smile, pat my head and with a slight nod of the head

Fold my piece of treasure and stow it away in yours.

So today as I look through the dusty books in your empty room

And find a crumpled up piece of paper, yellow with age,

And I see my first meaningful verse in my immature hand,

Or as I look through your old cupboard and I find, my little blue sock

Holes and all and my little black bangle I once loved with my life

I realise I was the only one who grew out of it all.

And as I remember those long evening walks, I remember the pride in your voice

As you showed little me to your friends and the way you held my hand so tight

I always wondered why but now I seem to know, you were only afraid to let go.

So today as I walk around your empty room and sit on the bed I wasn't allowed on,

I see what you have always meant to me and I see what I was to you.

Your little girl is back from the far place you asked her not to go to

All she needs is you.

And so I promise, you will see me here, the next time you open your eyes.

You will see me here, the next time you take a step and I won’t let you fall.

You will see me here the next time you make music on a late evening on our front porch

And my feet shall move to your rhythm again.

You will see me here on your next long evening walk and we will go

To all the places we have been and talk to your friends

And you will introduce me yet again and I will be proud

For my little hand will never grow out of yours.

And so, come back for your little girl for I am here

And all I need is you.